Marie Van Brittan Brown

Marie Van Brittan Brown, living in Queens, New York, in the 1960s, was understandably concerned about crime rates and slow police response times. So, she did what any forward-thinking, security-conscious individual would do: she invented a better mousetrap—or, rather, a better peephole.

Working with her husband, Albert Brown, she developed a sophisticated (for its time) closed-circuit television security system. This wasn't just a doorbell with a camera; it included a series of peepholes, a sliding camera that could scan them, and even a two-way microphone for communication. Plus, there was an emergency button to alert the police, making her home a veritable fortress.

The Browns filed for a patent in 1966, which was granted in 1969. While the original intent was personal safety, their invention laid the groundwork for everything from modern CCTV to smart doorbells. It seems even basic human paranoia can be a powerful engine for technological advancement.

As far as Jewish credentials go, Marie Van Brittan Brown appears to have none. Her contribution to society, however, was certainly k-worthy, making countless homes safer and giving future generations of nervous nellies a way to peek at their pizza delivery guy without actually opening the door.